She Puts the A in AAA Girls: An Interview with Alaska

If you know anything about RuPaul’s Drag Race you know about Alaska. Winner of All Stars 2, Queen of hair and nails, über tall, gorgeous, incredibly talented, and with a melodic voice that resonates when she enters a room…”Hieeeeeeeeee!”

I had the chance to briefly meet Alaska at one of the RuPaul BOTS meet-in-greets. Everything I’ve said above is 100% true. This queen is unstoppable and there’s nothing she can’t do.

Since Alaska is coming to Chicago as part of the AAA Girls Access All Areas tour, we asked her a few questions. I think you’ll agree, from her answers, that we can add really smart to the above list.

I bet you’ll read the answers in her voice.

In 2014, you, Willam and Courtney formed the AAA Girls while being a spokesperson for American Apparel’s “Support Artists, Support Ethical Manufacturing” campaign. What are your thoughts on representing such an important campaign, and what does it mean to you?

Courtney always says, “If you didn’t pay for it, someone else did.” There are certain retailers where the prices may be low for us, but the real cost is put upon the manufacturers and workers who made those goods possible. American Apparel fought for ethical pay and conditions for their workers and they also made really cute clothes which didn’t hurt either.

The AAA Girls just released their first album and it’s already exploded on the charts. How was your experience creating an album with your friends vs. your solo albums?

I’m very happy with the work. I get to play with different shades of my Drag persona while working in a girl group. I have a secret love of being the girl on the left rather than the girl in the middle, and in a girl group like this we all get to play these different roles interchangeably. It was like that with writing the songs.

Do you have a favorite song from the album?

“When the Water Runs Clear” is an anthem for the ages.

What can people expect from the Access All Areas tour?

Well, we rehearsed. I think this is the first time the AAA Girls ever rehearsed for a show. There is choreography. There is beauty. There is Drag.

(If you want a sneak peak at the Girls rehearsing, you can check it out HERE)

What is your favorite part of your performance in the AAA show?

I love “Tuck Tape.” It was one of the hardest choreos for me to learn but now I love it.

How was it traveling with Courtney and Willam? Are there any events that you think defined your European travels? Or your Australian ones, do you have any memorable stories from Down Under?

Once we flew on a Virgin Australia flight in full Drag. I wore heels to the airport. I expressly do not recommend this.

How is the drag scene different in Europe and Australia compared to the US? What’s in and what’s out?

I think in the U.K. there are more queens who sing live. America is the land of the lil sync artist. And Australian Drag is D.R.A.G.

Drag Race recently moved to VH-1 and the general complaint around the interwebs is the watering down of some of the content in order to make it more “palatable” for the average audience. What are your thoughts on the move from Logo to VH1?

I think if more people see the show, that’s good for them and it’s good for all of us. I don’t think it’s watered down, but I do think that tv is like a drug. The audience needs more and more to get that fix. But the show is as strong now as it ever was and the message is one of creativity, hard work, and fucking with gender and so wherever and however that message can be shared with the people, I think that’s a good thing.

What is the most important thing you’d want new Drag Race viewers and/or your current fans from television to understand about drag culture?

Firstly- There are 9 seasons of Drag Race. Do the research and watch them all. And there’s also a great, vast, wide world of drag beyond Drag Race that you would love.

Here at SpaceGypsies we are geek girls so we’re very familiar with sci-fi/pop culture conventions. RuPaul’s Drag Con has burst onto the convention scene. How has your experience been at Drag Con?

It’s pretty crazy. It’s like the Star Trek conventions that sprung up around a tv show that captured people’s hearts and imaginations. I love Drag Con.

GreenEggsNSamm (Samm) developed her geekdom at an early age, with a love of costumes (and glitter) and moved on to a love of geeky things. She loves to write, create costumes, and glue rhinestones on things. When she's not making costumes or competing in horse shows, she enjoys video games. Her absolute favorites are Bioshock and Tetris. Once ashamed and picked on for being a geek, GreenEggsNSamm is no longer afraid to let her geek flag fly!

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Redefining the Fangirl

The SpaceGypsies are a team of reporters, writers, convention goers, and geeks. Since 2009, we have been committed to providing quality coverage of a variety of fandoms through news, convention reports, interviews, reviews, and more.